Jerry the Laundry Folder
04 March 2014 | Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
On the list of things I will miss in the Caribbean is Jerry the Folder. He hangs out the laundromat across from the Pueblo grocery store near Yacht Haven Grande Marina. I think the laundromat is called the Washboard. I have been to this laundromat many times in the past three years and Jerry is always there folding laundry. He seems to be employed to fold sheets for an institution. He always has a pile of single bed sheets that he folds. Jerry is a meticulous sheet folder. You know how hard it is to fold bottom sheets with the fitted corners? Well, Jerry has them folded in a tight square package and if you let him, the pillow cases and top sheet are all bundled into the neat package.
I am not a meticulous sheet folder. The sheets are going back on the bed when I return to the boat, so it seems a waste of my energy to meet Jerry’s standards, but Jerry cannot abide by my messing folding. With a little smile and hand motion that clearly says “push that pile over to my side of the table and I will do the folding as it should be done”, I hand over my laundry to Jerry. I do the small stuff, like my underwear and hand towels. I am not sure if Jerry folds my laundry out of compulsiveness or as a living, but I do tip and thank him. I will miss Jerry.